A pronoun is a word used to stand for (or take the place of) a noun.
An antecedent is a word for which a pronoun stands. EXAMPLES 1. Every passenger was required to show his or her ticket. The antecedent of the pronoun is passenger (singular). The singular verb was required makes this fact quite clear. A passenger may be male or female; therefore, we are obligated to use "his or her." 2. Neither of the boys has done his homework. This is a little tricky because we are tempted to think that the pronoun refers to the plural boys. However, the sense is that neither (one) of the boys has done his homework, and the pronoun refers to neither (one), which is singular. Therefore, we use the singular pronoun his. 3. A person who is terminally ill has the right to have his or her wishes regarding life-support respected. The pronoun refers to the singular antecedent a person (who may be masculine or feminine); therefore, the pronoun must be his or her. 4. Nowadays, when a student graduates from college, he or she has a better chance of getting a good job than a person with only a high school diploma does. The antecedent of the pronoun is student (singular, male or female); thus, the correct pronoun is he or she. 5. Neither India nor Pakistan is willing to abandon its nuclear weapons program. The pronoun refers to each of the two countries separately (neither one nor the other). The pronoun must therefore be the singular its. (Once more, it's does not mean "belonging to it"; it's means "it is.") 6. Any student who wishes to be excused should raise his or her hand. Do not say or write "their hands" when the antecedent is singular (student).
An antecedent is a word for which a pronoun stands.
EXAMPLES
1. Every passenger was required to show his or her ticket.
The antecedent of the pronoun is passenger (singular). The singular verb was required makes this fact quite clear. A passenger may be male or female; therefore, we are obligated to use "his or her."
2. Neither of the boys has done his homework.
This is a little tricky because we are tempted to think that the pronoun refers to the plural boys. However, the sense is that neither (one) of the boys has done his homework, and the pronoun refers to neither (one), which is singular. Therefore, we use the singular pronoun his.
3. A person who is terminally ill has the right to have his or her wishes regarding life-support respected.
The pronoun refers to the singular antecedent a person (who may be masculine or feminine); therefore, the pronoun must be his or her.
4. Nowadays, when a student graduates from college, he or she has a better chance of getting a good job than a person with only a high school diploma does.
The antecedent of the pronoun is student (singular, male or female); thus, the correct pronoun is he or she.
5. Neither India nor Pakistan is willing to abandon its nuclear weapons program.
The pronoun refers to each of the two countries separately (neither one nor the other). The pronoun must therefore be the singular its. (Once more, it's does not mean "belonging to it"; it's means "it is.")
6. Any student who wishes to be excused should raise his or her hand.
Do not say or write "their hands" when the antecedent is singular (student).
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Pronouns and Antecedents